Musical wind instrument.



R. FIELD.

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. i9l8.

1,284,280. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE.

y ROBERT FIELD, OF HUDDERSFIELID, ENGLAND.

MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENT.

Application filed March 2, 1918.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ROBERT FIELD, a sub ]ectof King George V of Great Britain. residing at Huddersfield, in thecounty of York, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement inMusical Wind Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new or improved musical wind instrument ororgan and has for its object the production of a simple and cheapinstrument adapted to give the equivalent of the notes or octaves of saythe strings of a violin by the action of the upper lip over an elasticor flexible ribbon or band in blowing into the instrument and themovement of a finger over the said ribbon or band, the sounds producedbeing an imitation of that of a violin, or it may give the miniaturetone of a violin or of a flute.

In order that my llflVGlltlOlll'HiLY be fully understood reference ishereinafter had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of a wind instrument constructed according to myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the front or mouthpiece end of theinstrument and,

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line a b of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, my'invention consists in providing, in itspreferred form, a hollow wood device 1 of suitable length built up ofsections of wood or other suitable material secured together by anadhesive, or by pins, or both, or formed out of the solid, or composedof metal, and either square or angular or other desired shape in crosssection, one end of the device being sealed up at 2 (or having asubstantially blank end) and the opposite end thereof formed toconstitute a mouthpiece 3, or provided with a suitable mouthpiece whichis open to the interior of the instrument.

At a suitable distance from the mouthpiece 3 is formed in the upper sideor wall of the hollow device an opening 4 of suitable shape, butwhatever the shape of the said opening may be I form the side 5 thereofstraight or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the device.Ordinarily the said opening is bored to present a circular opening andthe side 5 is afterward cut square or straight as shown. To the rearSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 220,041.

side of the opening 4t there is provided in the interior of the device apartition. (3 courposed of wood, parchment, or skin or other suitablematerial, such partition separating the rear end of the device from themouthpiece and forming a sound chamber 7 the space or chamber 8 indirect communication with the mouthpiece and the sound opening a forminga wind chamber.

The mouthpiece could be lined with thin metal or the like to preventaccess of moisture to the wood and such metal liner might be continuedto approximately the position occupied by the partition 6 pipe fashionwith the inner end thereof closed up. tn form the wind chamber, thepartition 6 in this case not being necessary although it would be ofadvantage to the production of sound to connect the upper and lowerwalls of the sound chamber together by means of a sound post.

Laid taut oiysli atly distended along the upper outer and preferablyflat surface of the device 1, and covering the sound opening 4:, is athin ribbon or band 9 of india rubber or other suitable elastic orflexible material which will vibrate readily under wind pressure, a thinrubber band or ribbon giving very good results. The ends of the saidband or ribbon 9 are suitably secured to each end of the instrument ordevice to retain it in close contact with the upper surface thereof, thefastenings at each end being covered by metal plates 10, 10.

With the device constructed as before described and shown on thedrawing, I obtain the notes of approximately an octave and a half by theaction of the upper lip alone when blowing into the instrument, thefinger meanwhile being pressed or laid upon the elastic band 9 at apoint close to the rear of the sound opening 4:, that is to say, fromthe mouthpiece to the sound opening the action of the upper lip movedalong the corresponding portion of the band 9, as wind is blown throughthe chamber 8 and through the opening i against the band 9, will producenotes of the compass say of a single string on any stringed instrument.The movement of the finger over the portion of the band 9 from the rearof the instrument to the sound opening t ontinues the scaleapproximately another octave and a half so that with the two saidportions of the rubber band 9 one pressed upon by the upper lip and theother by the rolling or movement of the finger over same, a range ofapproximately three octaves is obtained or double the compass of anordinary violin string and equal within a few notes to the rangeobtained on the whole of the four strings of a violin.

The side of the instrument can be suitably marked as a guide to theposition of the finger for given notes although this is readilyascertained in practice.

The elastic or flexible ribbon or band 9 is clamped or held down againstthe face of the device 1 at a point on one edge thereof adjacent to oropposite the sound opening 4L by a finger 11 secured to the device. Theband 9 with the exception of the clamped portion and the portion held bythe finger can vibrate freely between the fastened down ends, thusadmitting of a greater volume of sound being obtained than when the edgeof the band is not so held.

The instrument in use is played in a similar manner to an ordinary windinstrument, the wind passing into the wind chamber 8 and then throughthe sound openingttherein where it impinges upon the elastic or flexibleribbon or strip 9 and vibrates same, the action of the upper lip on thedevice or its position thereon up to the opening 4:, giving the range ofapproximately an octave and a half if the ribbon or strip be pressedagainst the device immediately to the rear of the opening. By shiftingthe pressure of the finger from the rear toward the sound openin g 4 thenotes of approximately another octave and a half are obtained, thepressure of the finger being shifted backward and forward along theribbon or strip somewhat in the same manner as in fingering the violinto obtain the requisite notes of the piece being played, the action ofthe upper lip also having a control in the notes produced.

The device may be )lain or coated with metal, or may be made of metal orother suitable material, wood, however, being preferred for givingpurity and sweetness of tone.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A musicalinstrument, comprising an air chamber having a blow opening, and havingan air outlet hole at its middle portion. a vibrating band secured tothe chamber and overlapping the outlet hole, and means for clamping oneedge of the said band to the chamber adjacent to the said hole.

2. A musical instrument, comprising an air chamber provided with a blowopening at one end, and having a transversely extend ing member at itsmiddle part, and an air outlet hole in one side between the said memherand the blow opening, and a vibrating band secured to the chamber andoverlapping the outlet hole.

3. A. wind instrument having a wind chamber in communication with amouthpiece and with a sound opening, a thin band or ribbon of indiarubber or like suitable material or required length secured at each endto the instrument and lying stretched or taut over the sound opening, abridge piece or clamp holding the hand against the instrument at oneside of the sound opening and a sound chamber to the rear of the windchamber all arranged in the manner and for the purposes substantially asherein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT FIELD.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. BARRON, MARY BARRON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

